DUI's
 

There are too many DUI'S here in TV. I wish I had an answer on what can be done. Wherever you go there is "happy hour". Some people don't know when enough is enough.

One is too many.
But are there more here than anywhere else?

Happy Hour used to be an "hour".

Here it's "morning, noon and night".

The bars could at least wait until 5:00 to start Happy Hour. (And this doesn't mean happy hour should be banned, either, as I'm told has been done somewhere in MA if I remember it right).

It's always 5 PM somewhere. [emoji2] (I'm not encouraging excessive drinking.)

Eh-yup, Massachusetss banned happy hours years ago. Not sure if it reduced DUIs or DWIs, though.

Yes, I just looked it up and it was 1984. This article did raise some good points as to why they did it, but then, Prohibition had its backlash, too. I put boldface on several things that are unnecessary inducements.

"The ban, one of several steps that Massachusetts has taken lately against alcohol-related accidents, is believed the first such rule to cover an entire state. Many of the regulation's supporters hope the idea will spread.

''I've heard all the horror stories I'm going to listen to,'' said George R. McCarthy, chairman of the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission, which sponsored the ban. He was referring to several recent cases in which drivers and pedestrians were killed after having been drinking during tavern happy hours.

Part of Wider Movement

The state's new regulation specifically prohibits offering free drinks, discounted drinks or special ''jumbo'' drinks that cost as much as regular drinks. Unlimited numbers of drinks can no longer be offered for a fixed price, and bars are prohibited from sponsoring such promotions as darts or music contests that award alcoholic drinks as prizes. A pitcher of beer can henceforth be sold only to a party of two or more customers.

The Massachusetts ban goes further than rules in other states, yet citizens' groups and liquor authorities in many areas of the country describe happy hours as potentially dangerous. Several states have begun to restrict such promotions. .."

'HAPPY HOUR' BAN STARTS IN MASSACHUSETTS BARS - NYTimes.com

I'm from MA and in my experience the Happy hour ban did little to limit DUIs. I know people who had numerous judgements against them but still violated the ban to their detriment. My wife and I just stopped associating with them.

I ran across a report that said in 2010 1.41 million people were arrested for DUIs in the U.S. I would say that it is likely, that given our demographic of mostly retired (lots of free time), Villagers are not heavy contributors toward DUIs in Marion, Lake and Sumter. It just seems like it because you are reading about them (finally).

In fact, our three counties are on a par with most of the rest of Florida with a comparatively low DUI rate of approximately 25/yr per 10,000 population.

Rather Simple Solution
 

The consequences should meet the DUI/DWI acts. Make the fines $1,000 for the first and 3 months in jail, 2nd will get you $5,000 and 1 year in jail the third is going to be at least $25,000 and 10 years. think that may lead to more sensible drinking. You can always have a sober driver and not put others on the road or cart path at risk. Also, make the bars
post these in very big posters so there is an awareness when someone over dirinks and drives. If you look at the bars in the resturants in the squares you know there are quite few that may drive drunk? That can and should be stopped.
If people want to drink (especially when in the senior age category) that should be fine. They just can't put other at risk because they want to get drunk, etc.:wine:

The bottom line is simply this; if someone wants to drink and drink to excess they will do it whether it begins at happy hour or at whatever point in time during the day they decide to start drinking. The problem drinkers are problem drinkers and not a result of any happy hour specials. And nothing will stop them until they decide to stop. And that's pretty much it. I've had a lifetime of living and being around alcoholics and it is no more simple and no more complicated than what I just wrote.

Easy solution - QUIT DRINKING. If they had seen all the lives broken and carnage from DUI accidents I worked in my career, it wouldn't be hard. DUI is the same mindset as plowing through the Villages gates - total stupidity.

People will not quit
 

It is kind of unrealistic to believe people will stop drinking. But if someone was running up the road or on the cart path with a loaded gun and waving it all around you can bet the farm the Police would arrest them and they would face some serious penalty. In Norway, if you get one DUI/DWI they take your drivers licence for life. Someone driving drunk is like waving a loaded gun all around and everyone hoping it does not go off and hit you. Same as driving drunk. Maybe the people in Norway have the answer. I also believe that our Sheriff should have cars outside of the Bars in the squares in the evening and pull over any one that looks under the influence? I bet you will see more sober drivers to take the drunks home. barf

Is there a WCTU club in The Villages? Sounds like there is a need.

Just a little off topic, but what happened to the Villager who stopped his motorcycle and fired several shots into the car in back of him at a stoplight?

Last I heard, he was released on bond.

According to the online news, he did not appear in court for his arraignment on October 27th. It was rescheduled for Nov. 3rd and he did not show up for that either. Sentencing was set for Dec. 1st.

According to Lady County court records, neither he nor his attorney showed up for the sentencing hearing. It was rescheduled for today, 12/22.